Stamp affixing machine



P 20, 1932- E. w. GMELIN ET AL 1,877,349

STAMP AFFIXING MACHINE Filed Sept. 25, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l JNVENTOKS MaZWb'meZue Sept. 20, 1932 E. w. GMELIN ET AL STAMP AFFIXINQ MACHINE Fiied Sept. 25. 1951 '2 sheets-sheet 2 mmw QRS

Patented Sept. 20, 1932" UNITED S EDWARD enema AND AZEL GAY", or ROCHESTER, YORK, nssrenons To MUL- rirosm 00., OF 'noorrns'rnn, new YORK, Acont'o'nA'rIo'N on NEW YORK *50 letters, and we'have shown in a general .way

STAMP AFFIXING MACHINE Application filed September 23, 1931. Serial Ila-(564,581. 1

Our present invention relates to stamp affixing and label applying, that is, the application of gummed sheets, such as postage stamps, to a surface. It further relates more particularly to machines devised for this purpose which carry a water reservoir from which supply the stamps or labels are moistened, and our invention has for its general object to improve the means by which such application "of water in exactly the proper quantity to the gummed surface or receiving surface is made...

To these and other ends, the invention resides in certain improvements and combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification. v

In the drawings: 7

Fig; 1 is aside elevation, with the casing partlybroken away, of a stamp .afiixer constructed in accordance with and illustrating one embodiment of, our invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section through the casing on the line 2'2 of Fig. 1, showing in elevation the inner face of the'reservoir; f

Fig; 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section through the lower part of thema- ;chine, including the reservoir, in the vplane of the line'3-3of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to parts in a'd-ifi erent position Fig. 5 is an enlargedelevation of the inner wall of the reservoir, detached, viewed from the inside of the latter and showing the water projecting mechanism mounted thereon; e 1

Fig. '6 is a section on the line 66-'-of Fig. 5, looking in the direction of the arrows Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view of a portion of the showing of Fig. 3, but illustrating a different adjustment of the parts, and

Fig. 8 is a detailed elevation of the pro je'c-tor yoke. I c 1 Similar reference numerals throughout the several views indicate the same parts.

As-il-l'ustrated, our invention is applied'to a hand stamp for alfixing postage stamps to Fig. 8 with the so much 'of the old construction asxis necessary to an underst'andi'ng of the improvements thatwe have made. A casing 1 has mounted thereinin suitable guides a vertical plunger 2 that is depressed by a stroke ofthe hand and returned by suitable spring means not shown. An extension 3 of the casing is adapted to contain a roll of stamps that is" fed by suitable means, also not showmaoross the face of a presser foot 4 at the base of the plunger, in connection with which mechanism the stamps are carried down'individually and cutoff one by one to be applied to the letter or other surface upon which the casing of the machine as a whole rests. For this purpose, the presser f ot:4 makes contact through an opening in the bottom of the casing, which opening, by the manipulation of the machine as, a whole, ispositioned at the desired point.

During the passage of the stamp and the presser foot 4 from the position of the figures downwardly to the point of contact, a few drops of water are projected preferably upon the receiving surface within the confines of occupies a portion of the opening 5 and the said inn'erlw'all of which is closely adjacent to the path of the presser foot 4. The downward movement of the latter actuates jet forming and controlling mechanism in the following manner: j

The said reservoir 7 is preferably in the form of :a separate block "or casing secured in the lower corner of the frame 1 by screws 8 and' 9 and having a filling 10 projecting through an opening to the exterior of frame 1 and closed by a screw cap 11-. The opposite and inner wall 12 is a separate piece held in place by screws 13 and carries the jet forming or projecting mechanism "c'Ooperat ing with the opening 6 in said wall. On the inside of this wall is a bracket plate 14 having upper bearing ears 15 and lower bearing ears 16. Mounted on shaft 17 supported in the lower bearing ears 16is a yoke 18, shown in detail in Fig. 8. The lowere'nd of this 27 so that it can pass the same.

yoke is provided with flanges 19 that secure to it an elongated pad 20 of rubber or such material as will effectively stop the jet openings 6 against the escape of water in the reservoir when the pad is cooperating there with, as shown in Fig. 1. It is normally held in such cooperation by a spring 21 coiled about shaft 17 to engage the lower end of the yoke and reacting against wall 12. A shaft 22 mounted in the upper bearing cars 15 carries a lever 23 that engages the upper bar 24: of the yoke 18. The upper arm 25 of this lever is engaged by a plunger 26 adapted to reciprocate in an inclined bearing in the top wall of the reservoir and terminating in a cam button or rounded head 27, which projectsbeyond wall 12 of the reservoir in the direction of the path of presser foot 4.

Nithin a slot or cavity 28 in the plunger 2 is pivoted at 29 a dog or contact member 30. A spring 31 coiled about a lower pin 32 in the cavity engages this dog to normally hold it with its upper stop arm 33 against the plunger 2 and against a set screw or adjusting member 34: threaded into the latter.

This maintains a contact arm 35 on the dog projecting laterally, so that the path of its descent is intercepted by the rounded head 27 of the actuating plunger 26. The operation of the device is as follows:

The normal position of the mechanism and of the plunger 2 is that of Figs. 1 and 3, in which the presser foot 1 is raised and the contact arm 35 of the dog is above plunger button 27. Upon the descent of plunger and presser foot, as by striking or pressing down upon the knob 36 of the plunger, to carry and affix the stamp, the dog so strikes plunger 26, driving it inwardly to the position of Fig. 4. Through lever 23, this rocks projector yoke 18 and pad 20 to the position of that figure, allowing the jet openings 6 to fill with water. The dog, however, immediately slips off of rounded head 27 and all of the parts are returned to normal position by spring 21. In so doing, the pad 20 forcefully, though Without shock, strikes the wall 12 across the openings 6 and projects the watertherein upon the stamp receiving surface an instant before the stamp on the presser foot reaches it.

Upon the return of the plunger and presser foot to its elevated position, the spring 31 of the dog yields and allows the latter to be retracted or displaced by the plunger head The plunger is prevented from being dislodged upon such movement by a restraining bar 37 bridging the interior of the casing 1.

It will be obvious that the period during which the pad 20 is retracted and the openings 6 allowed to fill with water, as well as the stroke or swing of the pad causing it to more or less forcibly strike the openings,

' will depend upon the dwell of the dog arm 35 upon button 27 of the actuating plunger, which is saying the degree to which the button projects into the path of the dog. To regulate this and so control the volume of the water delivered is the reason for providing the set screw 34. With the adjustment thereof, shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, a maximum jet results. Upon adjusting the screw 34h, as in Fig. 7 the dog is correspondingly retracted, so that its engagement with the actuating plunger is brief and the pad is given a correspondingly light and quick slapping movement.

lVith this equipment, a very fine control is exercised over the moistening of the stamp which is quite important in such devices as will be appreciated when the smallness of the surface area of a stamp is considered.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a stamp aflixing mechanism, the combination with a movable presser member and a water reservoir, of a water projecting means associated with the reservoir to be operated by the presser member and embodying an actuating member, the presser member being provided with a contact member adjustable thereon withrelation to the actuating member to control the volume of delivery.

2. In a stamp aliixing mechanism, the combination with a movable presser member and a water reservoir, of a water projecting means associated with the reservoir to be operated by the presser member and embodyin g an actuating member, a spring dog on the 100 presser member adapted to engage and operate theactuating member, and an adjust-able stop for the dog to regulate the amplitude of such actuation.

3. In a stamp aflixing mechanism, the 1 combination with a plunger having a cavity therein, a presser foot on the plunger, and a water reservoir adjacent to the path of movement of the latter, of a water projecting means associated with the reservoir, a 11 spring dog pivoted in the cavity of the plunger and adapted to engage and operate the actuatin member,'and a set screw in the plunger acting as an adjustable stop for the dog to regulate the amplitude of such actuation. V

4. In a stamp affixing mechanism, the combination with a movable presser member having a contact element thereon and a water reservoir adjacent to the path of movement 1 thereof provided with a jet'opening, of a pivoted spring projector within the reservoir normally closing the jet opening, and an actuating plunger therefor on the reservoir projecting into the path of. the contact elev ment on the presser member.

5. In a stamp aifixing mechanism, the combination with a movable presser member having a contact element thereon and a water reservoir adjacent to the path of movement thereof provided with a jet opening, of a pivoted spring projector within the reservoir normally closing the jet opening, and an actuating plunger therefor on the reservoir projecting into the path of the contact element on the presser member, said plunger being provided with a rounded head with which the contact element on the presser member has a slip-off engagement.

6. In a stamp aflixing mechanism, the combination with a movable presser member havmg a contact element thereon and a water reservoir adjacent to the path of movement 

